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LTE Surges Forward; Sprint Promises 100 More Cities by End of Year

September 17, 2012

LTE deployment is in full swing. Putting the LTE pedal to the metal, Sprint plans to plant its 4G flag in more than 100 additional cities this fall. Major metropolitan areas sporting LTE are expected to include: Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.; Miami; New Orleans; New York; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C.

“We are committed to delivering a cutting-edge network as quickly as possible, one that provides a greater level of reliability and speed to our 3G and 4G customers,” Bob Azzi, senior vice president-Network, Sprint, said in a prepared statement.

Currently, Sprint offers the new LTE service in 19 metropolitan areas. By the end of 2013, Sprint expects to have completed the nationwide build out of the all new 3G and 4G network.

As part of its overall network strategy, Sprint is also overhauling its 3G infrastructure. These enhancements are now available in several markets across the country, with significant deployment in Baltimore, Boston and Washington, D.C.

Sprint, which introduced a WiMAX network in 2008, began rolling out LTE to customers on July 15 in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and surrounding cities.

More LTE for AT&T

AT&T, which now has LTE availability in 24 states, launched LTE in Anchorage; Bakersfield and Modesto, Calif.; Bridgeport, Conn.; Jacksonville; Omaha; and Syracuse this month. AT&T says it has the nation’s largest 4G network covering 275 million people, but it is counting both HSPA+ and LTE transmitters.

VZW Expands its LTE Lead

Roll out of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, available to more than 75 percent of the U.S. population in more than 370 markets, rolled forward this month with the addition of small markets in Colorado, New York State, Kansas, Utah, Missouri, Idaho, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

LTE is now reaching into such small markets as Coffeyville, Kan., which boasts upwards of 10,000 people. Verizon’s entire LTE network footprint is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2013.

New services, made possible by LTE, are now being introduced. On Sept. 20, Verizon Wireless’ customers will be able experience HomeFusion Broadband, which delivers broadband wireless to in-home devices, and the viewdini video service.

C Spire is in the LTE Game

There is LTE action in the rural areas, as well. C Spire is launching in 31 Mississippi markets between September and mid-October. Another six markets will be added by the end of 2012 as part of the company’s multi-million dollar investment. The markets will cover 2,700 square miles, a population of 1.2 million and 364 cell sites. The new service will be available to four out of every 10 consumers and businesses in Mississippi, making C Spire the first provider to provide LTE widely in the state.

US Cellular’s LTE network is available in more than 20 cities, including newly added towers in Bangor, Maine; and Grants Pass, Ore. It also has sites in Manchester, N.H.; and Greenville, Wilmington, Jacksonville and Asheville, N.C.